This was supposed to be a blog entry

About the cool and fabulous things I have been doing lately. But I am unable to write it, because today, I HATE DOGS.

Say whaaaat?

Today is my *only* day off since I can remember, and for the foreseeable future. I had a lot of things planned for today and even got up early to accomplish them all. Mid morning, I took a break to take the dogs for a run on the property. We grabbed the crappy Flying Squirrel, meandered way back along the river, and spent some time in the Grass Basin playing “Find the Flying Squirrel That The Stupid Food Lady Keeps Throwing Away” in the tall grasses.

And one minute there was a TWoo

and the next minute – no TWoo. This is not unusual, as walks are Hunting Time for the WooTWoo (except on the rare occasions when Woo plays with us).

A little while later I heard, very faintly, the unmistakable sound of TWooie barking his “I found something” bark. It took me a minute to orient myself, and then I realized where the sound was coming from – my HOUSE. That could mean only one thing.

TWooie had doubled back to the chickens.

I ran back to the house as fast as I could, which is not fast because I have 10 acres, remember, and I was at the opposite end of it from him. By the time I got there, there were two sad chickens outside the pen making very sad sounds, one dead hen in the pen and the fourth one was MIA. I hurled myself on the chickens, grabbed a piece of the TWoo (a leg? his tail? Can’t remember) and marched him straight into the house, snagging a Wootie along the way (because as we know from previous blog entries, he’d take advantage of the situation by offing the other two chickens I’d saved from TWoo).

RAGE

He had managed to find a weak joint in the wire and pulled open a very small hole. How he got through that hole is a mystery to me – I can only assume that TWoo, like a rat, can fit inside anything larger than a quarter. I *think* he pulled the chickens out of the hole one by one and killed the one IN the pen before he could drag it out because the hole was small and I doubt the chickens would have tried squeezing through it with a crazed murderer on the other side. The two shell shocked hens that were outside the pen were just laying in the grass moaning in terror. They have no injuries- I checked them over very well – but they aren’t happy.

I had to spend an extra hour hunting through the scrub around my property for Hen #4 and finally found her in the ditch. Actually, Woo found her first, but when he went in for the grab, I went in for the scruff clutch and just happened to catch the ear that he split open yesterday. IOW, Mr. Woo got the mother of all corrections for trying to taste my chicken! She is also no worse for wear and was really hard to catch (read: I spent ages running up and down the ditch in galoshes getting filthy). I then went to the hardware store, bought much stronger galvanized wire and recovered the chicken coop. Then I had to go bury the dead hen. There went my day.

I’m so mad at TWooie I can’t even look at him without wanting to wring his neck. I’m going to go chase him around the house now with the scary vacuum cleaner as punishment.

I do not have the heart to blog something amusing today. I am not very attached to my chickens (except for Black Rock Camaro, the only black hen – I like her) but senseless murder of the poor hens annoys me endlessly. It’s even more annoying that it wasn’t even the dog named after a serial killer that did it! I am even more annoyed that TWoo, who does not dare go near the coop when I am present, was so devious as to wait until I was really far away before running for 20 minutes back to the house to get the chickens. I’m putting hotwire around the coop next, that’ll learn him.

Anyway. The Food Lady thinks this farmy business sucks donkey balls and is too grumpy to blog properly. So here’s a shitty picture of a bird that TWooie DIDN’T kill today.

Harumph.

PS – I’m looking for an inexpensive heat lamp for my hen house (to beat TWoo with when he tries to break in, obviously). Anyone got one to spare, or advise on where to buy one that won’t charge an arm and a leg?

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Comments

Unfortunately, sneaky or not, it’s just part of living with high prey drive dogs and chickens. If you keep both, unless you are an expert chicken prison, I mean coop builder or you have dogs who are NEVER off leash, well.. stuff happens.

ahhh sheena…maude got Aurora…one of my chickens a few years ago and it was totally my own fault…she slipped into the coop right past me.

maude is a good dog…TWOO is a good dog…. they just need not to be able to get anywhere near to chickens.
good strong dog proof wire is a the first step…and then watch out when you are going in and out the door cuz even good dogs will do bad things once in a while!

My Jester has got to be TWoo’s cousin! I don’t have chickens and, to my knowledge, he’s never killed anything, he is the KING of sneak! He will wait ’til I go to bed, then go downstairs and ransack my backpack if I leave it on the hook (waiting *hours* if necessary) and once chewed through the strap on Greta’s purse while she was sitting 8 inches from it … but it was on the floor and she was *not looking*. And we won’t even mention normal counter-surfing behavior! Plus, Jes doesn’t like strange dogs or humans, is a black-tri (mini-Aussie) AND when you get mad at him, he grins up at you and wiggles even harder, making it impossible to maintain furiousity! ;-)

Senseless murder to you but, as I am sure you know, not senseless to Twooie. And the sneakiness is pure dog and is more memory than sneakiness. We aren’t supposed to correct them unless we catch them in the act because they won’t “remember” what we are correcting them for but they “remember” where something was or something happened a week ago. That said, I am sorry for the death of your chicken and understand how you feel. Many years ago, my Borzoi proudly dropped a dead possum – with a pouch full of live babies – at my feet. We sat up all night trying to save them but they died one by one. I couldn’t look at or speak to my dog for days. I am sorry, too for your lost day and hope your dogs, good and “bad”, restore your peace of mind.

“AND when you get mad at him, he grins up at you and wiggles even harder, making it impossible to maintain furiousity! ;-)”

Yes!!! That is TWoo! Although, I maintained some serious furiousity at him today, let me tell you. I know he’s a dog, and dogs kill things (especially the WooTWoo) but dammit, I don’t want him to kill MY things!!

I’m gonna get me one of those fighting chickens with the spikes on their feet and let TWooie try and kill that. Maybe THAT’ll learn him!!

:/ Of course, I doubt TWoo went through the thought process of “Oh, these are HERS. Okay, I won’t touch /them/.”

My girlfriend’s family had chickens and a few dogs at the same time, and one day the dogs basically ate all the chickens. I think it’s just harder for dogs to understand – because you can’t really cuddle a chicken or anything that really demonstrates that they’re /pets/, not just prey that happens to be there conveniently. Ah well. Try not to wanna kill the TWooie too much, eh? I mean…I dunno, kinda seemed like it might’ve been inevitable, what with his voracious appetite for…things.

Anyways…I know you said he keeps gaining weight, but dang. Every time I see a picture of him, I think he looks /so/ much better than he did when he first got to you. Not a meatball at all anymore, methinks. He looks pretty good.

With moderate and consistent training most dogs will leave chickens alone when you are there. Mine do and for the most part completely ignore them or offer to herd them. I would not leave them alone with them all day, but I don’t consider that unreasonable. They ignore/like a lot of things they don’t need to see while I’m not around LOL Temptation…

(The LGDs are with the birds all day, but that is a different kettle of fish.)

I don’t think TWoo or Woo are “most” dogs. They are like my Lucy (who looks quite a bit like a dark red Woo – she is purebred old-line working Aussie with a tail). It’s going to take a multi-faceted approach of good fencing, electric barriers, supervision, and if it so pleases you, possibly and e-collar as well. I would consider all of it for the safety of the chickens – especially if you want to give them a more ideal free-range day life.

And per my experience with Lucy, if all else fails, at least hope for arthritis. I have to admit that my little demon sister to Woo and Twoo is much, much more obedience when she misses her medications…

“I don’t think TWoo or Woo are “most” dogs. They are like my Lucy (who looks quite a bit like a dark red Woo – she is purebred old-line working Aussie with a tail). It’s going to take a multi-faceted approach of good fencing, electric barriers, supervision, and if it so pleases you, possibly and e-collar as well. I would consider all of it for the safety of the chickens – especially if you want to give them a more ideal free-range day life.”

And I do! The plan was to get the chickens, acclimate the dogs to them, then put up a fairly flimsy / cheap fence so they could roam whilst I was home (and when I had the money to put the fence together). Alas, now it looks like it will have to be a very STURDY fence (with a hot wire) to keep the WooTWoo out. They are very predatory, these two bastids. The border collies ignore them and Tweed is terrified of them.

I do have an e-collar, but I suspect it will only result in a TWoo who does not kill chickens while wearing the collar. I think a constant hotwire is a better idea.

I put hotwire around my coop the first day, when my springer was trying to dig through the wire. Took her 2 shocks and now she doesn’t even get off her bed if she sees me going out with the scrap pail. I got my heat lamp at the feed store.

I’ve had only 2 chicken deaths from border collies. Both occurred when the dogs were pups (different occasions) and both were caused by the dogs herding them to death in hot summer weather. And both times, the dogs were hugely embarrassed. Never happened again with either dog, althoug they still *herd* the chickens if I let them. (Chickens, unlike ducks, don’t herd very well.)

Aussies must have a quite different sensibility. The hotwire is probably the best plan.

Electric fence is a good idea. We have friends who keep our BC/ACD mix when we’re out of town. They have a farm, and raise chickens and turkeys (which range around the farm). They tell me it only took Stella encounter with the electric fence around the turkeys to become very, very respectful.

Gah I know exactly how frustrating it is when a dog decides your collection of pets is his/her own personal sushi bar. I tried to keep that darned dog (a Smooth Fox Terrier) out of my animal area [a fenced off piece of garden]. Eventually, she killed everything, despite my attempts to raise a fence higher and higher, block every tiny conceivable entry point and watching her like a hawk. Several guinea pigs, a chicken and three pigeons later, I’ve given up raising anything in the garden and have all my pets confined to cages. Which is sad for them and time-consuming for me [I can’t let them go without exercise but I have to make sure Nina is out of the way and have you ever tried to catch a pet rabbit that’s really enjoying herself running around?] but at least it keeps them alive. Darn dogs.

I think hot wire is a generally good idea; it won’t only keep pesky dogs out but any other predators who might look at the fat, flightless birds like an easy dinner. Of course a stronger type of wire is essential too; sneaky dogs can [and will] take off for a few minutes to chew on a fence or cage, weakening it, then returning to their owner as if nothing has happened. A few of subtle absences and in no time you have a nice dog-sized hole waiting for the right opportunity and the right opportunist.

As far as the heat lamp goes, I always get an inexpensive ($5) clip-on metal heat lamp base at the farm store (you could probably find them at the auto parts store too), then put in a big heat bulb (also from farm store – $3). I use them to keep my chicks warm when they’re growing, and then I’ll turn them on when it gets cold to keep my poultry warm at night and it keeps the hens laying longer too.

Ack! I know that RAGE> I’ve felt it. We lost chickens and turkeys and ducks this year! Yeah, how come we lose them all in one year and not any for 10 years previous?! Don’t know.

Right now, my RAGE is reserved for deaf ACD we have who has attacked our littlest dog not once, not twice, but three times in as many days. Full out dog fight. WTF! She’s lived here for 3 months. It’s not even a full moon for christssake! She’s a bully. I hate bullies. They make me mad. RAGE. ARGH. I share your anger today.

Hope things get better. Hope your reno’s on your hen house keep out the wayward souls.

I vote for the hot wire too. It will also keep stray dogs and coyotes and raccoons out if postitioned correctly (multiple strands). You have a couple of confirmed hunters there, so have to bring out the big guns.
You can probably buy a heat lamp at any farm feed place, like Otter Coop, or the bulb at most places that sell light bulbs. The bulbs are expensive though. I’ve managed to luck out and get some at garage sales/thrift stores, but that involves being at the right place at the right time.
I only put a heat lamp in with mine when we get an extended freezing spell. If the night temperature drops a few degrees below freezing, and the days are above, I don’t bother. They will need an ordinary light though to extend their ‘daylight’ hours if you want to get much in the way of eggs from them over the winter.
I’ve found that birds can seem to be badly injured, but if you put them somewhere quiet and protected to recover, they quite often will.

I’m really sorry you day off got screwed all over the place. I can maybe help on the “heat lamp,” though. We use a regular incandescent light bulb, and that gives enough heat in our Pacific NW winters to keep the water thawed (inside the coop) and the chickens going except in the most unusual cold snap. (During those I don’t change the bulb, I just thaw out the water and fill with warm; an electric teapot works great for both.)

Thanks all, for the commiseration and suggestions! I am pleased to report that Black Rock Camaro and the other two hens are still alive and well this morning. They did not want to come out into the pen though, even with tempting oatmeal and flax seeds scattered for them. They are clearly unnerved by the scene of the slaughter, poor things :( I hope a few more days will convince them that they are safe in their home. As soon as I have a day off, we’ll go and get some hotwire to keep away the EVIL TWOO and ensure their ongoing safety. Thanks again!

Chicken killing stories abound. My Aussie, Ray, who is now 13 years old has 2 dead chickens 2 his credit. One was a friends. We had arrived at their place in CT for the weekend, when Ray was just a youngster and I didn’t know that they had free range chickens in the yard. So I just let Ray out of the car and being the Aussie that he is, he chased one down until it just died. And once it stopped moving, he was no longer interested in it. Needless to say the chickens spent the rest of the weekend in the coop.

The second chicken made it’s way to the hearafter at the Fair Hill agility trial one fall. The parking and entrance to Fair Hill for agility competitors is close to a dwelling where, unbeknownst to anyone, there were some free ranging chickens. After arriving on Thursday evening (Fair Hill is a 3 day USDAA trial held in conjunction with the Fair Hill 3 day Horse Event), I took the dogs out for a walk and this time Ray was even on a leash, although it was a 26′ Flexi. And when we were returning to the vehicle to head to our motel, Ray spied a chicken and before I could yell out Ray, NOOOOOOOOO! The chicken was dead. That one cost me $100. It was a show chicken. And the host of the trial offered the owner the money for it and when I found out, I felt obliged to repay her.

Ray has taken down deer, ground hogs and a possum. He’s an inveterate hunter, who will not be denied. And he’s stealthy about it too. If it weren’t for Flirt and Bodhi, barking in excitement at the action, I would never know about 1/2 the stuff he kills.

Sheena I feel for you with the dog/chicken situation. You can have dogs and chickens live together but it’s like any other training situation, you have to be consistent. A hot wire will help.

I’ve got 8 BC’s, a mixed breed and 3 LGDs with a flock of 18 free range chickens. The LGDs have helped cut out the raccoons who used to come and regularly wreak havoc. Most of my dogs have been raised with chickens but even the foster dog is fine with them. (Of course I don’t have a WooTwoo.) Even with hosting sheepdog trials, we’ve only lost 2 chickens to someone else’s dog. Your chickens will recover it just takes some time.

Regarding the hot wire: an old trick to prevent roaming LGD with limited or single hotwire (and a LGD who wants to roam can rival the woos with their intelligence and determination) was to put a short chain around their neck, with enough dangle to go to about their knees. The chain should be clipped so it can’t tighten, and the chain light enough they can run about with no issue.
What will happen though is when they leeeeeean over that fence trying to get around it, they are going to get a very direct jolt.
It’s not a nice thing I suppose…but neither is a lgd dead in the road, or dead chickens…

I would do 2 wires by the way – one well back from the coup, and another close up. E-net close up would be even better, but its pricey

My former dog once ran off, as the little escape artist was wont to do, and got into a neighbour’s turkey pen. When we found her she was standing proudly over a very large, very dead turkey. Let’s just say the neighbour was unimpressed with her hunting abilities.

FoodLady posted: “I’m gonna get me one of those fighting chickens with the spikes on their feet and let TWooie try and kill that. Maybe THAT’ll learn him!!”

LOL. That will l’arn him, all right. My uncle Fred kept fighting cocks when I was a child. They are the devil’s poultry. Anyone who wonders why the University of South Carolina chose a gamecock for their mascot was obviously never flogged by one.

Srsly – have you contacted Julie Poudrier from the BC Boards? She somehow managed to train all nine of her BC (including Pip) AND my (Tasmanian Devil x BC) Faith to leave her chickens strictly alone. I’ve seen the dogs loose amongst the chickens with my own eyes – no mayhem ensued. I don’t know how she did it, but you might ask her. :-)

Yikes. My dog was a terrible predator. He killed a duck, a crow and a mouse all while on a short leash! He’s run after a flock of birds on the beach and taken one down. He was a Siberian Husky with strong instincts like the WooTwoo. And the craziest thing? His name was Woo. That’s how I first found your blog.

Being the owner of a Border Collie (the rescue called her the “fence hauler”) living with 12 yorkies (my boyfriend’s dogs) and being the former owner of a very special pet rooster who was killed by the neighbor lab…. I feel your pain!

My sympathy on the chicken slaughter. The only thing I can add to the advice is to recommend placing a chicken who has died (hopefully not by the dog) on a hot wire fence with a bit of wire wrapped around so any dog who tries for a taste will get a shock. I had to train my high prey drive husky not to LOOK at chickens (if you don’t look, you can’t grab and kill) but he didn’t have a history of such a big success (in a dog’s view anyway).